Nick Kyrgios fumed at the chair umpire during his second round match at the Australian Open.
Cheered by his home crowd, the local favourite gave maximum effort but was eventually defeated by world number two Daniil Medvedev 6-7(1), 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 on Rod Laver Arena earlier today.
It marked the first time he had lost to the Russian, whose consistency and savvy play proved too much for the Aussie to handle.
However, the 26-year-old was rattled just three games in the match as he expressed his unhappiness with the placing of his towels.
“Why would you do that?” Kyrgios asked umpire Carlos Bernardes as he walked back to his chair.
“We have this every tournament”, the official replied, but Kyrgios wasn’t done there.
“Why would you not do that? Why would you not do that?” he demanded.
“You know that I use my towels, so why would you not have them?"
“We have to request,” Bernardes responded. “It is the way that they do it now. I'm sorry. We have the same opinion."
Kyrgios then relented, but the Brazilian would be subject to another verbal tirade from the big-serving player regarding the speed of the shot clock between serves.
"They are here to watch us, not you!" Kyrgios yelped.
"Remember, this match is about me and him, yeah? Don't ruin it by putting the clock too fast. Let the people enjoy it without that stupid s*** happening.
"It can't happen, otherwise you will ruin the match. Be reasonable."
In the opening stages of the third set, Kyrgios berated Bernardes yet again, and shouted at him to “listen” before telling the umpire: "no one cares what you say."
Medvedev was able to keep his cool at the other end and turned in a solid performance en route to progressing to the third round after two hours and 58 minutes.
The 25-year-old fired 68 winners as he struck consistent flat groundstrokes with great depth to deny Kyrgios, who turned in a spirited performance.
“I came to win this match and I am happy I managed to do it,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview.
“It was a funny match because we both served big. In the second and fourth sets I managed to return a little bit more at the crucial moments.
“I just want to play my best, hit good shots and hopefully that will be enough to do something big.”
The US Open champion will take on Botic van de Zandschulp in round three.
